A New Approach To Parole

Every young person leaving JRA residential care needs and receives a period of structured transition and services when they return to family and community. We call this service Functional Family Parole (FFP). Typically, youth and families receive between 5 and 6 months of services. Certain sex offenders are on parole for 24 to 36 months.

Begun in 2002, FFP is the core community component of JRA's cognitive\behavioral based Integrated Treatment Model. The importance of family involvement in the lives of these youngsters cannot be overstated. Family support is critical to preventing youth from re-offending. Using engagement and motivation skills drawn from Functional Family Therapy, JRA parole counselors help families move beyond blaming and negative expectations and reinforce positive changes made by youngsters.

Youth Accountability

JRA has high expectations. Parole contracts signed by each youth specify treatment and programming requirements, the days and times they will report to their counselors, geographic movement restrictions, and prohibited activities (e.g. drug alcohol use) and possessions (e.g. firearms). Youth who violate the conditions of their aftercare contracts are subject to a series of graduated sanctions including curfews; electronic home monitoring; and for repeated and serious violations, return to confinement for up to 30 days

JRA's Aftercare Is Evidence-Based

JRA is committed to delivering services that really work to reduce recidivism. JRA parole services include Functional Family Therapy, Family Integrative Therapy, Aggression Replacement Training, Multi-disciplinary Case Management, and Mentoring.

A July 2002 Washington State Institute for Public Policy study of 12-month recidivism by JRA youth mentored in a pilot program managed by our Seattle parole office showed that mentored youth were less likely than a matched comparison group to have any new offenses, new felony offenses, or new violent offenses. The 34% drop in new felony offenses is most encouraging. Other research shows that every dollar spent on mentoring will result in more than $7 of future savings. We have expanded youth mentoring to all of our parole service areas.

JRA Community Partnerships

Working together, JRA and its partners are committed to providing quality services to youth and their families that improve young lives, reduce recidivism, and make comminutes safer. JRA partners include Regional Support Networks (for mental health services), the University of Washington, the DSHS Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse and Children's Administration, juvenile courts, law enforcement agencies, schools, and private sector treatment providers

For more information contact:
Bob Salsbury
(509) 363-4665
email